16:50 Bangor

Friday 3 August 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:50

R W Hough & Sons Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 5m 37.8s

Mullaghboy^h,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁸⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 102

20/1

Run in chases over the last eight months but reverts to timber here and steps up in trip. Young jockey claims 8lb and interesting to see how he fares over this longer distance.

Form: 3F14-48

Nemean Lion^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P A Kirby| OR: 100

13/2

Won three mile Southwell novice hurdle in October but pulled up last time in Uttoxeter novice handicap chase. Back to hurdling now and return to this trip should also help.

Form: 55-6P3P

Aristocracy⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 94| D

3/1

Scored over this trip at Uttoxeter in September off 6lb lower mark and ran very well when runner-up over two miles on Flat recently after a long break. Looks to have sound credentials and warrants serious consideration.

Form: 486/231-

Blue Rhythm^p⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: A Ralph| OR: 94

7/1

Beaten just half a length at Southwell in May having been in the doldrums so a similar effort could well give him every chance off just 3lb higher mark.

Form: 42FF-P3

Kingston¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 92

10/1

Not disgraced on last two starts but stamina for this longer trip has to be taken onn trust. Would ideally prefer some give in the ground.

Form: P75-034

Handy Hollow¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 89

9/2

Handicapper proving slow to release his grip having looked held off this mark on each of his last three outings. May again find a few too good for him.

Form: 6P-0434

Rumor^p1¹⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J L Flint| OR: 87

28/1

Shown very little in five starts so far in this sphere and hard to see him being good enough to make his presence felt at the business end of the contest. Wears first time cheekpieces.

Form: 4080P-

Gold Bonne Raine⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 85

14/1

Ran really well on first start for 423 days when third over 2m4f at Southwell in May. Runs off same mark and must have sound chance if he sees out the extra three furlongs this time.

Form: F6434/3

Tir Dubh^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R D Day| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 85| D

25/1

Won maiden hurdle over this trip at Worcester in 2016 and makes debut for new yard have run decent race when third at same track last month. Has place claims.

Form: 7/54-673

Outrageous Romana^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 84| D

4/1

Stayed on bravely when scoring at Uttoxeter in June and wasn't disgraced when third at Worcester last month off this mark. Wouldn't want the ground to dry out too much though.

Form: 135-513

Kilcaragh Boy^h,t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 82

66/1

Tailed off when fell at Worcester last week and has shown little form for some time making it hard to see him getting involved here in current form.

Form: 500-07F

Tommy O'dwyer^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: N Mechie| OR: 69

33/1

0-15 under Rules and has been mainly campaigned over fences without showing a great deal. Has a squeak on best of old hurdles form but on balance others make far more appeal.

Form: 555-P60

Forecasts

Aristocracy (3/1), Outrageous Romana (4/1), Handy Hollow (9/2), Nemean Lion (13/2), Blue Rhythm (7/1), Kingston (10/1), Gold Bonne Raine (14/1), Mullaghboy (20/1), Tir Dubh (25/1), Rumor (28/1), Tommy O'dwyer (33/1), Kilcaragh Boy (66/1)

Quite a few of these are either struggling for form or are unproven over the trip so a chance is taken that BLUE RHYTHM can build on a promising effort last time out and step up land the spoils. Aristocracy could be a big danger having returned from a long absence to run really well on the Flat last time, while top weight Mullaghboy may bounce back over hurdles having struggled over fences. Kingston has a chance if he stays this longer trip, and Outrageous Romana is another who should have her supporters.